I’ll have more on this shortly, but San Diegans need to see this now. It’s yet another telling reason why we need to contract out every possible city function. These myriad city employee benefits are a Gordian Knot that cannot be untied. We need to cut through them with an ax. Sever our city employees — as many and as …
What DO Political Folks do after Election Day finally passes? Please Add your Shocking Examples right here!
What DO we Political people do with ourselves after Election Day has assuredly come and gone? When we have to face Real Life again. All those personal life things you put on hold, pending the absolutely-most-important-elections-ever….. no really. Pictured are some answers I picked up from confidential sources. But I know San Diego Rostra readers can add EVEN more stunning examples to …
“Rostra” Readers heard Loud and Clear Today at Cathy Glaser’s Retirement Party
The plaudits Rostra readers gave Cathy Glaser the past two days were read aloud this afternoon at a moving ceremony in the Registrar of Voters office. Registrar Deborah Seiler and other executives spoke of the Rostra tribute page, and even read several comments aloud from our readers. Husband Bob Glaser, son Danny and daughter Emily also proudly watched and listened. Your Humble Servant also spoke to …
If We Hurry, There’s Still Time to Screw Over The Voters
Thanks to some vigilent citizen watchdogs spreading the word, we learned that Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood called a special meeting of the Oceanside City Council today at 4 p.m. The meeting just barely met the minimum public notice required. Ask yourself dear Rostra reader why the council would be in such a big hurry to have an unscheduled meeting on …
A Message From Mr. Wizard: “Drizzle, Drazzle, Drozzle, Drome, time for lame ducks to go home.”
Our lame duck Democratic House and Senate have responded to the rather loud voice of November’s election by saying: “Forget you! We’ll just continue to jam as much legislation through while we can.” And so, our “unseated congress” tries to vote against extending the Bush tax cuts. They also dig up that beautiful amnesty bill (Oh, excuse me. I meant …
Despite cartel violence, DHS moves to increase travel between countries
Looking to strengthen the Obama Administration’s ongoing commitment with Mexico, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano traveled to Mexico City to meet with her counterpart and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to fighting terrorism and other transnational crimes. Among the business conducted by Napolitano was the “signing an agreement to facilitate secure, legitimate travel as part the United States’ and …
FPPC Fines Outgoing Mayor Lori Pfeiler
Today’s North County Times reports that Escondido’s outgoing mayor, Lori Holt Pfeiler has been fined by the Fair Political Practices Commission for underestimating the cost of a trip she took last year on the private jet of San Diego Chargers owner Dean Spanos. Her financial report showed she estimated the trip at a value of $504, while the FPPC pegged …
Public Money to Arts?
OK sometimes I agree with San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio, sometimes I disagree. Sometimes he seems to go a bit to far. But in the case of DeMaio’s move to cut the arts budget of the City of San Diego DeMaio is not going far enough. People – the gravy boat we have been riding on for decades is …
Unfactual Fact Checking
A while back I explained why “fact-checks” such as Politifact should be viewed with suspicion. The “facts” may be no more than the reporter’s opinion dressed up with factual-sounding language. Here’s another example of Politifact’s ability to contort the truth so it appears false. In this case, the target of Politifact’s disinformation is Rand Paul, as the Washington Examiner’s Mark …
DeMaio: Making Redevelopment Agency Pay Back Taxpayers
City Attorney Provides Legal Opinion Justifying DeMaio’s Proposal to Transfer Convention Center Debt Service to CCDC Councilmember Carl DeMaio today joined three other City Council Members to form a voting block to advance a proposal to transfer debt service on the Convention Center from the General Fund to the Redevelopment Agency. DeMaio is joined by Councilmembers Marti Emerald, Todd Gloria, …
The Dream Act much more than education- it’s amnesty for a new voting block
The DREAM (Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors) Many say the DREAM Act does nothing more than cheapen the American citizenship process and hurt those who have honestly entered the process, filed their paperwork, waited in line, learned English, studied American civics- and ended their arduous task with a U.S. Naturalization ceremony. Achieving the dream of becoming an American …
The Best-Ever SD Registrar of Voters employee — Cathy Glaser — retires this week after 36 years of Public Service
The words “civil servant” actually mean something when it comes to a woman like Cathy Glaser, who ends 36 years of public service this week at the San Diego Registrar of Voters. She is the long-serving Chief of Campaign Services Trusted by political professionals of all parties, Ms. Glaser is unfailingly “civil” and polite, and has been a true “servant” …
DeMaio Urges San Diego Residents to Reject Another Water Rate Hike
65% Increase in Water Bills Since 2007 – Yet City Failed to Deliver on Promised Reforms from 2007 Rate Increase Councilmember Carl DeMaio expressed disappointment that the City Council voted to forward another water rate hike on hard working San Diego families instead of fixing the wasteful spending within the Water Department. At the urging of the Mayor the City …
Education: A Money Pit?
“A cohesive education bureaucracy isn’t necessarily a good thing – not if that cohesion serves to preserve an unsatisfactory status quo at a time when school districts and states across the nation are climbing on the reform bandwagon.” – A Chance for Education Cohesion @sdut Frankly, that statement doesn’t go far enough when you look at once-failing school districts in …
Victories Done. Back to Fighting Each Other.
I don’t think anyone could argue with a straight face that the Republican Party hasn’t made itself a major player in San Diego over the past maybe six years. The change started under current CRP Chairman Ron Nehring, and continued under current San Diego GOP Chairman Tony Krvaric. In my mind, the local GOP and the Lincoln Club and a …
Tea Party groups show their independence — “No to social issues”
San Diego’s largest Tea Party, Southern California Tax Revolt Coalition (SCTRC) went on the record and said they would break with the Tea Party Nation and will not tackle social issues like abortion, immigration and gay marriage. The Fox News channel guest Judson Philips, founder of Tea Party Nation, a for-profit social network and convention organizer, who announced to his …
CA corporate income tax receipts plummet 41.6%
I stumbled across a new depressing California factoid to consider. Comparing the second quarter of 2009 with 2010, California corporate income tax receipts dropped a breathtaking 41.6%. That is a stunning reduction in one year. Only rust belt Ohio was worse. Now I know what you’re thinking — we’re in a recession! The nation is suffering. Well, yes and no. …
WikiLeaks dumps 250,000 new cables — it’s a who’s who list in American politics
It’s like reading a who’s who in American politics, as WikiLeaks published more than 250,000 State Department documents mostly dealing with the two wars in the Middle East. Names like President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and General Petraeus are on the country’s heavy hitter list and latest targets of intelligence documents released by the new “go to” sensational website WikiLeaks. …
Oakland to issue illegal immigrants an identification card
The liberal, albeit much poorer suburb of San Francisco is making a strong effort to issue identification cards for those in the country illegally; the card will also double as an ATM. According to city officials, the ID card would assist illegal aliens who have a tough time obtaining proper identification. The city contracted out the ID card service to …
Another drug cartel tunnel found on the San Diego border
U.S. authorities have reported that a second smuggling tunnel has been uncovered along the Mexican border in San Diego. At least four people were arrested in connection with the tunnel along with a significant amount of marijuana. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that the smuggling tunnel was discovered on Thanksgiving when most Americans were watching football games and eating …
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